START ART | Ein Karem

What happens when the everyday space of a neighborhood becomes a living stage for art?

START ART — Body. Coffee. Culture in the Neighborhoods 2026 is a series of dance, performance, and music events taking place in commercial areas throughout Jerusalem’s neighborhoods, bringing original works into the heart of city life.

The series invites Jerusalem residents to encounter professional art close to home—between the neighborhood café, shops, streets, and familiar shopping centers. Through a direct encounter between artists, the community, and local businesses, a unique cultural experience is created—one that expands the boundaries of the traditional stage and connects art with life itself.

The program awards creative grants to independent creators in the fields of dance, performance, and music, and encourages the development of original site-specific works born from attentive engagement with the urban space and the human fabric of the neighborhoods.

An initiative of the Dance Department, in collaboration with the Business Promotion Division and the Music Department of the Jerusalem Municipality and the community administrations, led by Yael—Home for Independent Dance and Performance Creators in Jerusalem.

5 days | 10 neighborhoods | approximately 100 businesses | 15 dance, performance, and music creators

Arnona | Ein Karem | Kiryat Yovel | Ramat Eshkol | Neve Yaakov | Talpiot | Baka | Emek Refaim | Pisgat Ze’ev | Ramot

Participating artists

Dance and Music Ensemble:
Liron Ben Yaakov—director and artistic director
Performing creators:

• Keren Rotstein—DJ Gondi
• Amitai Aricha—vocals and saz
• Ben Kobi—dance and clowning
• Naama Ezrachi—dance and capoeira
• Maya Michaels—ethnic dance
• Yoav Sargai—guitar

Accessibility contact: Liron Ben Yaakov, phone: 052-5365251
Contact: Liron Ben Yaakov, phone: 050-5365251